Director, Background Investigations Team

The Director, Background Investigation Team, develops, oversees, and enhances Ernst & Young's (EY) internal investigative background and due diligence programs with the objective of screening prospective clients and for client continuance, and/or employment related background investigations. The employment related background investigations involve a wide range of processes, including prospective job candidates, onboard employees serving on client engagements or being considered for promotion, and other internal investigations. This requires developing strong trust-based relationships with numerous internal stakeholders, including business teams, Recruiting, Talent, General Counsel’s Office (GCO), and other Risk Management teams.

The opportunity

The Director overseas a team of six employees and must build and maintain outstanding relationships with external and internal vendors, who perform the investigations and are critical to the Firm’s overall risk mitigation efforts.

The Director maintains first line responsibility for compliance with applicable federal and local laws relating to employment-based background investigations. As the Firm’s subject matter expert on background investigations, the Director also plays a role in advising GCO and business teams on agreements pertaining to client required background investigations of client serving personnel. The Director is regularly consulted by senior executives in the Firm for their expertise in EY employee background screening requirements and related risk mitigation strategies, as well as resolving issues necessary to make informed decisions in the client selection and retention and/or employment selection processes.

Your key responsibilities

• Responsible for the day-to-day operations and management of the Background Investigations Team.
• Responsibilities for delegating tasks, training, assessing performance and providing feedback for others on the team.
• Directs/manages the firm's policy for the investigation of experienced hires, early career recruits, and PPMD promotion candidates, providing input/guidance to decision makers on these matters.
• Directs/manages the firm's process for the investigation of prospective clients and existing client continuations, providing input/guidance to decision makers on matters relating to client acceptance.
• Provides input/guidance on client required background investigations of client serving personnel.
• Responsible for managing the contracts, relationships and services of multiple external background investigation vendors supporting employment-based investigations and an internal vendor supporting client due diligence investigations, focusing on fiscal efficiency and performance management.
• Provides subject matter expertise to firm leadership and key internal teams/stakeholders with respect to the scope of background investigations, the adjudication of results, and the risk mitigation decision making process.
• In collaboration with the General Counsel’s Office, provides first line of responsibility for compliance with federal laws, including the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA) and applicable local laws for employment background investigations, including the legally required Adverse Action processes.
• Collaborates with Recruiting/Talent and other internal teams across the business on technology platforms and other processes necessary to perform efficient and compliant background investigations.

Skills and attributes for success

• Extensive investigatory skills and/or expereince preforming and adjudicating background investigations.
• Solid understanding of legal requirements and employment background investigations under the Fair Credit Reporting Act
• Strong management and relationship skills, including delegating, coaching, defining expectations and building relationships; effectively collaborates with different stakeholders.
• Trusted to appropriately handle highly confidential, extremely sensitive, information.
• Executive poise and presence to interact with senior level executives within the Firm as a trusted advisor.
• Ability to work and team effectively with clients and other upper management personnel.
• Strongly motivated, self-directed.
• Outstanding interpersonal and organizational skills.
• Strong oral and written communication skills.
• Works effectively with little or no supervision on a regular basis. Keeps immediate supervisor and key leaders informed of investigations and other matters posing a risk to the Firm.
• Manages the training and development for staff in the Background Investigations Team. Provides feedback, explains assignments, delegates tasks, monitors progress and maximizes their utilization and productivity. Evaluates, counsels and mentors staff to help them achieve their full potential as members of the team and as EY professionals.
• Experience analyzing applicable federal, state or local laws and regulations to make informed recommendations and/or decisions relative to consumer reports/vendor background investigaton findings and/or other independent investigative results.
• Ability to analyzes a wide array of investigaive findings for employment, client acceptance and other purposes and provides consultative recommendation relative to Firm risk.

To qualify for the role, you must have

• Bachelors Degree or equivalent experience; Post Bachelors Degree or Juris Doctorate preferred but not required with sufficient related work experience.
• 15+ years’ work-related experience preferably with a large private sector business or a governmental law enforcement or investigative agency along with 5+ years of supervisory experience.
• Strong familiarity with background investigations and related employment law requirements
• Experience with adjudicating investigations and quickly moving to resolution
• Ability to work effectively across multiple stakeholders including business teams, Recruiting, Talent, General Counsel’s Office (GCO), and other Risk Management teams
• Experience leading large, complex projects as well as key enhancements and process changes

Ideally, you’ll also have

• Flexibility in your work schedule. While usual circumstances allow for normal work time in terms of dedication of hours, the Director Background Investigations Team must be prepared to respond at any time based on firm demand regardless of personal schedule/conflicts.
• Membership with the Professional Background Screening Association (PBSA) or other similar professional association preferred but not required.
• Experience with both larger private sector business and governmental law enforcement/investigative agency.

• Experience managing the contracts, relationships, and services of external background investigation vendors supporting employment-based investigations.